Permits Filed for 955 Woodycrest Avenue in Highbridge, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 955 Woodycrest Avenue in Highbridge, The Bronx. Located between West 162nd Street and West 163rd Street, the lot is near the 161 Street-Yankee Stadium subway station, served by the 4 train. John Miholics is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 60-foot-tall development will yield 17,954 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 27 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 664 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 32-foot-long rear yard.

John Backos of GRID Drafting and Consulting LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Inmate Convicted Of Slashing Federal Corrections Officer In New York City Prison

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the conviction in Manhattan federal court of MARIO POWELL for assaulting a corrections officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon and for possession of prison contraband.  The jury convicted POWELL following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. 

“Mario Powell brutally assaulted a federal corrections officer with a makeshift weapon made of razor blades,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “A jury of his peers held Powell accountable for this vicious attack.  Our Office is proud to stand behind and pursue justice for our law enforcement partners who bravely put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of New York.” 

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the evidence presented during the trial:

On May 30, 2020, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, POWELL forcibly assaulted a corrections officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon and, in doing so, lacerated the officer’s neck.  In order to commit the attack, POWELL obtained and possessed a weapon made of razor blades.

POWELL, 34, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of possession of prison contraband, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  POWELL is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cronan on November 14, 2025.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During Hunger Action Month, Governor Hochul Announces 63 Million Pounds of Food Redirected Through the State's Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program

Nation-Leading Program Helps Provide Food to Hungry New Yorkers, Reduces Climate Pollution from Landfilled Food Waste

In recognition of Hunger Action Month and Climate Week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a major milestone in helping feed New Yorkers in need while also reducing pollution that contributes to climate change. Feeding New York State, the state association of New York’s 10 Feeding America member food banks, reached a record 63-million-pound collection milestone as part of the ongoing implementation of the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law and funding in the State budget.

“As the federal government continues to slash funds for hunger programs nationwide, New York State is proud to support initiatives that provide access to healthy, quality food for those who need it,” Governor Hochul said. “Through effective legislation and financial support to organizations like Feeding New York State, we are working closely with businesses and institutions helping prevent food from needlessly being thrown away, reducing harmful greenhouse gas pollution, and bolstering food security at a crucial time for New Yorkers."

The New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, which helps reduce waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling, also demonstrates the State’s commitment to vulnerable New Yorkers impacted by devastating federal cuts to social programs that feed communities across the nation. Record volumes of food donated from the state's largest food-related businesses reach hungry New Yorkers, a direct result of State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) funding to capture new food donations and help build stronger, healthier communities.

DEC has provided $10.8 million to Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks to date through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) since 2018. The funds are used by Feeding New York State to deploy staff to grocery stores, restaurants, colleges, and other food industry facilities to increase participation in the program and encourage food donations. The funds also support vehicle and equipment purchases for the 10 region

New York State Leads on Hunger, Food Diversion and Recycling

The partnership between New York State and Feeding New York State is a nation-leading model for food diversion programs. The implementation of the law and investments by New York to put the program into action helped successfully divert millions of pounds of food to those in need. As of June 2025, Feeding New York State reported receiving more than 2.4 million pounds of monthly food donations over the last six months. This is a significant increase from 50-60,000 pounds per month when the retail food recovery program first launched in October 2021. The program previously reached the 36-million-pound food donation milestone in September 2024.

For information about how all New Yorkers can help compost and take other steps to reduce waste at homes and businesses, visit DEC’s website.

Venison Donations from New York’s Hunters

New York’s hunters are reminded that they can continue to help prevent food insecurity by participating in venison donation efforts. Each year, DEC partners with the Venison Donation Coalition and Feeding New York State to help provide food for those in need. Through a cooperative relationship involving the New York State Department of Health, not-for-profit organizations like Feeding New York State's regional food banks, and deer processors, hunters contribute nearly 40 tons of venison each year. In 2024, DEC issued more than $14,400 in hunter-donated funds to Feeding New York State and more than $7,000 to the Venison Donation Coalition.

Hunters can donate their deer or part of it at a cooperating processor, support their regional food bank monetarily, or make a cash donation to the Venison Donation Coalition when purchasing your hunting license to help offset the cost of processing donated venison. To learn more on how to support these programs or donate venison to help feed local families, visit the Venison Donation Coalition or Feeding New York State.

GreenNY Council Issues Annual Sustainability Report Highlighting State's Environmental Achievements and Energy Efficiency Milestones

 

The GreenNY Council announced the release of the 13th Greening New York State report highlighting actions that State agencies and authorities are taking to reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency, decrease waste generation, increase the purchasing of green products and services, and other related initiatives. The report documents progress toward meeting the requirements in Executive Order 22, "Leading by Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program," signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in September 2022. 

The sustainability highlights in fiscal year 2023–24 include: 

• 1.5 trillion BTUs of energy savings at State facilities through energy-efficiency projects documented in BuildSmart 2025; 
• 50 percent reduction in waste produced compared to FY 2022–23; 
• Initiating a comprehensive project to improve the use of GreenNY purchasing specifications; 
• Achieving an 89 percent overall recycling rate, including construction and demolition waste; 
• 16.9 tons of material composted; 
• 67,818 trees planted; and  
• $228 million invested in the economy to support environmentally preferred products and services.  

Through the Executive Order, the GreenNY Council supports New York State’s sustainability efforts. The Council, co-chaired by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York Power Authority (NYPA), Office of General Services (OGS), Division of Budget (DOB), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), collected data from 75 agencies and authorities covered under the Executive Order. 

Governor Hochul has demonstrated her commitment to Executive Order 22 by appropriating $100 million in capital funding during her tenure. The funding supports State projects to reduce emissions and mitigate and adapt to climate change. More specifically, it is enabling energy-efficiency enhancements such as electrification projects upgrading building systems from fossil fuels; smart building automation and controls; new high-efficiency HVAC systems; and other energy conservation measures. Funding also supports renewable energy infrastructure projects including photovoltaic technologies, including rooftop and parking canopy photovoltaic systems; geothermal HVAC systems; onsite battery storage; and other renewable energy infrastructure.  

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Governor Hochul’s leadership is delivering real progress to accelerate New York State’s transition to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. The progress outlined in the annual GreenNY Council report shows that NY is walking the walk and leading by example in sustainability and climate actions that will improve the health and lives of all New Yorkers.” 

Supporting Agencies to Meet Sustainability Goals

The GreenNY Council is taking steps to leverage resources, create guidance, streamline sustainability reporting, update green procurement specifications and make it easier for affected entities to achieve the State’s ambitious climate and sustainability goals. Additional information, including progress reports, links to resources on energy efficiency, reducing emissions and waste, reuse, recycling, composting, green cleaning, conserving natural resources, and general sustainable operations and purchasing is available on the GreenNY Council website: https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/ 

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

Semler Scientific Inc. and Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc. to Pay Nearly $37M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to FloChec and QuantaFlo Devices

 

Semler Scientific Inc. has agreed to pay $29.75 million and its former distributor, Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc. and its related companies, has agreed to pay $7.2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733, by knowingly causing, and conspiring to cause, the submission of false claims to Medicare for photoplethysmography tests performed using the FloChec and QuantaFlo devices in connection with the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

“Medicare billing regulations are created, in part, to protect the public fisc,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “It is incumbent upon manufacturers and their distributors to be honest with their customers about the rules and regulations that apply to their products.”

“Government programs expect an honest exchange between suppliers and programs funded by taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “When critical information is misrepresented or skewed for profit or personal gain, the limited resources available for our healthcare system are diminished.”

“Medical device companies that misrepresent the capabilities of their products and encourage providers to bill Medicare for services that do not meet coverage requirements drain critical taxpayer-funded resources,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Isaac M. Bledsoe of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In addition to this settlement, HHS-OIG has entered into a new five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with Semler Scientific, which agreed to undertake substantial internal compliance measures to help ensure that the company remains appropriate and lawful moving forward.”

PAD in the lower extremities is the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood between the heart and legs. Providers traditionally diagnose PAD by conducting a test called an ankle brachial index (ABI) to estimate the severity of the blockage in a patient’s limbs. To qualify for Medicare reimbursement, PAD testing must satisfy the requirements of Current Procedural Technology (CPT) billing codes 93922, 92923 or 93924. Each of these billing codes requires that a provider conduct an ABI test plus certain additional testing. In addition, Medicare does not cover noninvasive vascular tests that use photoelectric plethysmography, also known as photoplethysmography, which uses a light sensor to detect changes in blood volume.

From approximately 2010 through 2024, Semler manufactured, marketed, and distributed the FloChec and QuantaFlo devices to customers throughout the United States for use in connection with the diagnosis of PAD. Both devices use a light sensor to detect changes in blood volume. Additionally, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared FloChec and QuantaFlo, the agency told Semler that the devices did not perform an ABI and could not be called a “digital ABI.”

The settlement resolves allegations that Semler and Bard falsely claimed that tests conducted using the FloChec and QuantaFlo devices were reimbursable by Medicare and caused healthcare providers to submit false claims to Medicare. The United States alleged that Semler knew that testing conducted using FloChec and QuantaFlo did not satisfy CPT codes 93922, 93923, or 93924 because the devices do not perform an ABI. Additionally, the United States alleged that Medicare reimbursement for FloChec and QuantaFlo tests is barred because the devices use photoplethysmography. Nevertheless, Semler allegedly represented to healthcare providers that Medicare reimbursed customers for tests performed using Flochec and QuantaFlo if they submitted CPT codes 93922, 93923, and 93924. Even after Semler received concerns from third parties about reimbursement, Semler allegedly continued to market the devices as reimbursable by Medicare.

Bard served as Semler’s distributor from 2012 through 2022. As part of the settlement, Bard admitted certain allegations and received cooperation credit under Justice Department guidelines.

In addition to the civil settlement, Semler has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), which obligates Semler to undertake substantial internal compliance reforms.

The allegations were originally brought in a lawsuit filed by Robert Kane and Franklin W. West under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, private parties may bring suit on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.  Mr. Kane and Mr. West will receive approximately $6.5 million as their share of the recovery.

The government’s resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The settlement resulted from a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Senior Trial Counsel Kristen M. Echemendia, Trial Attorney Martha Glover, and Investigator Robert L. Jodoin of the Department of Justice, Civil Division, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE PUSHES FOR INVESTMENT, IMPROVEMENTS IN 988 MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE

 

After the Trump administration cut the specialized crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth and pulled NYC school funding over the city’s policies supporting trans students, New York City Public Advocate is pushing the city to expand its own mental health infrastructure through 988 and other programs. At a hearing of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction, he emphasized the need for a robust 988 infrastructure that integrates with B-HEARD and other intervention programs.

“Fully funding the 988 hotline is crucial; a new study found that New Yorkers use the hotline more than those in most other states, ranking fourth out of 50 states," said the Public Advocate. "In New York City, Vibrant Emotional Health, the organization that manages the hotline, reported exceeding the number of calls and text messages outlined in its contract with the city. Additionally, as New York City has the largest population of LGBTQ+ adults in the country, the city should specifically advertise crisis resources for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, and how to quickly reach services in an emergency.”

He also highlighted the burden placed on 911 operators, and the ways in which a lack of resources prevent B-HEARD crisis intervention teams from being sufficiently dispatched.

“When a person in crisis calls 911, the dispatcher who answers the phone is tasked with triaging the call and deciding the appropriate response; in B-HEARD pilot areas, this also includes deciding whether to route the call to a B-HEARD team or to the police,” he explained. “Though they have this huge responsibility, our city has failed to adequately support and compensate our dispatchers. Low pay, staff shortages, mandatory overtime, and insufficient training and support exacerbates an already stressful job.”

He closed arguing that “We cannot expect an efficient, functional emergency response system when the bridge between callers and services is neglected, mistreated, and often overworked. We have a moral mandate to ensure that no New Yorkers are lost to preventable mental health crises, including at the hands of law enforcement.”

The Public Advocate’s full comments as delivered are below, and video is available here.

Two Charged for Opening Gunfire at Children’s Baseball Field Were Let into the U.S. by Biden

 

This case illustrates the Biden Administration's failure to vet aliens let into the U.S. from high threat countries

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced two individuals charged in the heinous crime of opening gunfire on a children’s baseball field were allowed into the U.S. by the Biden Administration. One of the individuals charged is Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, an alien from Jordan that was turned into a U.S. citizen by the Biden Administration. One of the other individuals charged, Ahmad Mawed, an alien from Lebanon, was granted a green card by the Biden Administration.  

According to the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Ahmad Mawed, Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, and Mahmood Abdelsalam Rababah opened fire during a youth baseball game in Katy, Texas, hitting the coach while he was leading a prayer. Thankfully, the coach has been released from the hospital.  

“This horrific act of terror, the firing on children praying before the start of a baseball game, is pure evil. These individuals from high threat counties were let in by the Biden Administration. They clearly were not vetting the aliens they were letting legally enter our country and even become U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Not only did Biden fail the American people by leaving our borders wide open to criminals, but he also legally allowed them to gain status and citizenship to terrorize our communities.”

Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah

Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, was granted U.S. citizenship from the Biden Administration on August 1, 2023. He was granted U.S. citizenship despite prior arrests for drug possession. 

Ahmad Mawed

The Biden Administration granted Ahmad Mawed, an alien from Lebanon, entry to the U.S. on an IR-2 visa on June 3, 2021, which automatically made him a legal permanent resident. 

DHS law enforcement is protecting American communities every day from another senseless act like this taking place in another town, to another family. Victims of alien crime may receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423.

Retired New York Financier and his Personal Assistant Charged with Sex Trafficking and Transporting Women to Engage in Commercial Sex Acts

 

Defendants Allegedly Arranged for Women to Travel to a Sex ‘Dungeon’ in a New York City Penthouse, Where He Exceeded the Scope of Their Consent by Violently Abusing Them

A 10-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging retired New York-based financier, Howard Rubin, also known as “Howie” and “H,” along with his personal assistant, Jennifer Powers, with sex trafficking and transporting women in interstate commerce for sex acts with Rubin.  Rubin was also charged with bank fraud in connection with misrepresentations made to a bank in the course of financing Powers’s mortgage for the Texas home of Powers and her husband. 

Rubin was arrested in Fairfield, Connecticut and was arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.  Powers was arrested in Texas and is scheduled to make her initial appearance on Monday in federal court in the Northern District of Texas.  Powers will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.

Joseph Nocella Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, New York Field Office (FBI), and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York) announced the arrests and indictment.

“As alleged, the defendants used Rubin’s wealth to mislead and recruit women to engage in commercial sex acts, where Rubin then tortured women beyond their consent, causing lasting physical and/or psychological pain, and in some cases physical injuries,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Today’s arrests show that no one who engages in sex trafficking, in this case in luxury hotels and a penthouse apartment that featured a so-called sex ‘dungeon,’ is above the law, and that they will be brought to justice.  Human beings are not chattel to be exploited for sex and sadistically abused, and anyone who thinks otherwise can expect to find themselves in handcuffs and facing federal prosecution like these defendants.”

“For many years, Howard Rubin and Jennifer Powers allegedly spent at least one million dollars to finance the commercial sexual torture of multiple women via a national trafficking network.  The defendants allegedly exploited Rubin’s status to ensnare their prospective victims and forced them to endure unthinkable physical trauma before silencing any outcries with threats of legal recourse,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “The FBI will continue to apprehend any trafficker who sexually abuses others for twisted gratification.”

“It’s alleged Rubin directed a sex trafficking enterprise, exploiting women who were transported from across the country to his Manhattan penthouse that was equipped with a soundproof sex room filled with BDSM equipment, including a device used to shock the women,” stated Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI Chavis.  “This was not a one-man show.  While Rubin dehumanized these women with abhorrent sexual acts, Powers is alleged to have run the day-to-day operations of the enterprise and got paid generously for her efforts.  IRS-CI and FBI partnered to see fit that all the facts are detailed in this case and ensure that this pair realizes the full consequences of their ghastly behaviors.”

Rubin, now retired, built his wealth in New York City working in finance.  Powers, became his personal assistant around 2011, and managed the logistical aspects of their commercial sex operation.  As alleged in the indictment, between 2009 and 2019, Rubin and Powers recruited multiple women to travel to New York City to engage in commercial sex acts with Rubin involving bondage, discipline, dominance, submission and sadomasochism, referred to as “BDSM” sex, and some of the women were trafficked.  The commercial sex acts initially took place in luxury hotels, and then later in Rubin’s two-bedroom penthouse apartment (the “Penthouse”) in midtown Manhattan where he and Powers converted one of the bedrooms into what they referred to as a sex “dungeon” that was painted red, soundproofed and furnished with BDSM equipment and devices, including a device to shock or electrocute the women.  Rubin also used force, fraud and coercion to traffic another woman in 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Additionally, while fully embroiled in civil litigation related to this same conduct, Rubin falsely told a bank that he was not a party to litigation to secure a mortgage for Powers’s Texas home, which he financed. 

 As alleged, Rubin and Powers, together with others, recruited women to engage in commercial sex acts with Rubin.  Powers frequently arranged the women’s flights to New York to LaGuardia or John F. Kennedy International Airports in Queens and then transported them to the Penthouse.  During many of these encounters, Rubin brutalized women’s bodies, causing them to fear for their safety and/or resulting in significant pain and injuries.

As further alleged in the indictment, Rubin and Powers required the women to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which purported to require the women to assume the risk of the hazards and injury of the BDSM encounters with Rubin, prohibit the disclosure of information about the BDSM sex with Rubin and require the payment of damages in the event of a breach.  Rubin used the NDAs to threaten the women with legal consequences and public shaming if they sought legal recourse.

After the sexual encounters, Rubin and/or Powers used Rubin’s money to pay the women by wire transfer or a payment service such as PayPal or Venmo.  At times, Powers structured the payments to avoid sending a single transaction of $10,000 or more, to avoid triggering reporting obligations by the bank.  The indictment alleges the defendants spent at least $1 million of Rubin’s money operating and maintaining the trafficking network. 

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted of sex trafficking, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.  If convicted of transporting women to engage in commercial sex acts, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on each count.  If Rubin is convicted of bank fraud, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment.

If you believe you have been victimized by or have information about Howard Rubin or Jennifer Powers, please contact the FBI at fbi.gov/HowardRubinVictims, HowardRubinVictims@FBI.gov or 212-384-3600.